The Town FilesEmmett, Idaho
City in Gem County · population 7,647 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $342,000
- Household income
- $58,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 36.3
Emmett is a city of 7,647 people in Gem County, Idaho. The median home is worth $342,000, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks more walkable than 85% of Idaho towns, hipper than 85% of Idaho towns, more vibrant than 74% of Idaho towns.
How Emmett ranks
Percentile among Idaho towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Idaho towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Emmett is worth $342,000, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $58,750, which is more affordable than 18% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,042 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emmett | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $342,000 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,042 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $58,750 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Emmett
| People | Emmett | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.3% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 91.2% |
Weather in Emmett
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 13.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.4 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emmett since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 19, 1991 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 25, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 6, 1981.
Severe weather in Gem County since 1996
Gem County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 19, 2022 | Fire | FM-5449: Four Corners Fire |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| July 27, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1927: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Gem County
Gem County had 4,520 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,976 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Emmett itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Emmett
7 public schools with 2,509 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMMETT HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 737 | 25.4 |
| EMMETT MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 546 | 21.0 |
| SHADOW BUTTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 426 | 18.5 |
| KENNETH J CARBERRY ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 425 | 16.3 |
| BUTTE VIEW SCHOOL | PK-4 | 260 | 20.0 |
| BLACK CANYON JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 113 | 11.3 |
| PAYETTE RIVER TECHNICAL ACADEMY (charter) | 6-12 | 2 | 0.1 |
Towns near Emmett
- Star, ID11.5 mi · 11,117 people · home $564,300
- Eagle, ID12.5 mi · 30,346 people · home $772,900
- Middleton, ID12.6 mi · 9,425 people · home $403,100
- Hidden Springs, ID15.7 mi · 3,076 people · home $773,500
- Garden City, ID17.0 mi · 12,316 people · home $449,500
- Caldwell, ID17.5 mi · 59,996 people · home $367,300
- Meridian, ID18.4 mi · 117,635 people · home $531,600
- Nampa, ID19.9 mi · 100,200 people · home $370,800
Emmett questions
Is Emmett, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emmett scores better for retirees than 69% of Idaho towns and quieter than 34%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Emmett?
The median owner-occupied home in Emmett is valued at $342,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,750, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $1,042 a month.
What is the weather like in Emmett?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.3 inches of precipitation a year and 7.4 inches of snow.
Does Emmett get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emmett since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 19, 1991. The typical Idaho town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)